Upholstery needle for upholstering a stuffed article

ABSTRACT

An upholstery needle consists of a pointed body and provided, in the vicinity of its point, with a cavity of limited length. This cavity comprises two closed parts of unequal lengths, one at each end of a lateral opening. The cavity acts as a chamber for retaining an upholstery counter-button in the form of a bar.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,894,666

Delahousse et al. July 15, 1975 [54] UPHOLSTERY NEEDLE FOR 2,069,878 2/1937 Flood 223/102 UPHOLSTERNG A STUFFED ARTICLE 2,098,140 11/1937 Fridolph 24/102 T 2.518.888 8/1950 Hearst et a1. 1. 223/102 1 5] Inventors: Regis Y-Delahousse, 2,763.4l0 9/1956 Walker ,4 223/103 Moze-sur-Louet; Philippe J. 1785.644 3/1957 Frecdle et al.. 112/223 Delahousse, Brigsac Quince both of 3.154229 10/1964 Mount 1 1 p 1 1 r 223/102 France 3.209422 10/1965 Dritzm. 223/102 x 3513,7913 5/1970 Dohi' 112/222 [73] Assigneez Etablissements Delahousse & Bruant S.A., Brissac Quince, France Primary EvtuminerGeorge H. Krizmanich (22] Filed: 1974 Attorney. Agent. or FirmBr0oks. Haidt Haffner & [21] Appl, No.: 455,563 Delahunty [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 12,1973 France 73113317 {57] ABSTRACT [52] US. C1.2 223/102 An upholstery needle Consists f a pointed body and 1 1 f- D053 85/00 provided, in the vicinity of its point. with a cavity of 1581 held of Search 223/102 103, 104? limited 1ength. This cavity comprises two closed parts 112/222 223! 801 104; 163/5; 227/71? of unequai lengths, one at each end of a lateral open- 24/150! 102 T ing. The cavity acts as a chamber for retaining an upholstery counter-button in the form of a bar [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 73 1 .556 10/1929 Wren et a1 U 223/102 e a b c UPI-IOLSTERY NEEDLE FOR UPHOLSTERING A STUFFED ARTICLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention.

The present invention concerns upholstery needles.

2. Description of the Prior Art.

Upholstery needles have been proposed in the form generally of a pointed body in which an axial cavity is provided along the whole length of the body beyond the point. This cavity constitutes a chamber for accommodating a counter-button in the form of a small bar which is to be drawn through a stuffed article by means of the needle. The cavity also contains a device for ejecting the small bar at the moment when the needle is withdrawn; this device comprises a small plunger actuated either by a spring which is released when the needle is withdrawn or manually by means of a rod.

The construction of these needles is relatively complicated and gives rise to disadvantages as regards their use. In view of their construction, the needles must be accurately machined and several components need to be installed within each needle; thus the production costs are relatively high. Moreover, it is necessary to use the needles in conjunction with a machine adapted to compress the articles to facilitate the ejection of the counterbutton out of the needle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an upholstery needle for upholstering a stuffed article with an upholstering device having a counter-button in the form of a bar, said needle comprising a body having a point, and means defining a substantially axial cavity of restricted length within the body, the cavity being open laterally for at least part of its length and constituting a chamber for for accommodating the bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of an upholstery needle in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation ofa modified form of the needle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of another embodiment of an upholstery needle; and

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the manner of use ofa needle in accordance with the inventtion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. I shows a needle of which the body I ends in a point 2. A cavity 3 is provided in the body 1 adjacent the point 2. The cavity 3 extends substantially coaxially with respect to the body, over a limited length a. The cavity is also provided with a lateral opening 4 of length b, the length of the opening 4 being less than that of the cavity 3. The cavity therefore comprises two closed end portions 3a and 3b of which the lengths are respectively 0 and d and which extend in the body I of the needle beyond the ends of the opening 4. The end portion 3a constitutes a chamber for retaining a small bar, not shown, in the cavity whereas the end portion 3b constitutes an axial and radial abutment for an end of the bar.

In other words, and as will be seen in FIGS. 4 to 6, a bar engaged in the end portion 3a of the cavity 3 cannot come out of this chamber under the action of a lateral force applied to the bar, and a bar of which one of the ends is located in the end portion 3b of the cavity can rotate about this end under the action of a lateral force applied to the bar, and can be withdrawn from the cavity 3 through the opening 4. The length c of the end portion 3a of the cavity is sufficiently great approximately equal to half the length of the bar to ensure that its function as a lateral abutment will be performed effectively, and the length d of the end portion 319 does not exceed a value of a few millimetres, since an excessive length would prevent lateral rotation of the bar about its end engaged in the end portion 3b. The length e, which equals the length b plus the length d is preferably slightly greater than the length of the bar.

The needle shown in FIG. 2 differs from that of FIG. 1, in that permanent magnet 5 is present in the part of the body I of the needle located between the cavity 3 and the outer surface of the body.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the cavity 3 does not have a closed part 30. The needle consists of magnetizable material responsive to a magnetic field created by a source 6 which surrounds the body 1. The source can comprise a permanent magnet or an electromagnet, and can be rigid with the body I or can be stationary and provided with a passage in which the body can slide, the magnet being annular.

In a first alternative form of the embodiment of FIG. 3, the body 1 of the needle can be provided with a permanent magnet arranged adjacent the cavity 3 in the same manner as in FIG. 2. In a second alternative form, the body I is non-magnetic and has a magnetizable insert which is in the same position as the permanent magnet 5 shown in FIG. 2 and which is responsive to a magnetic field such as that provided by the source 6. In a third alternative form, the entire needle can consist of a permanent magnet.

The manner in which a needle in accordance with the invention is used is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 with reference to the needle of FIG. I.

In FIG. 4, the needle is shown facing a stuffed article 7 which is to be upholstered and which is held on a suitable surface not shown in the drawing. The needle is provided with an upholstering device comprising a facing button 8, a counter-facing button or counter-button 9 in the form of a small bar made of metal or a plastics material, more particularly as described in French Pat. No. 73 01478, and a connector 10 in the form of a loop interconnecting the button 8 and the bar 9. The bar 9 is engaged in the end portion 3a of the cavity 3 and the eyelet or projection II of the bar faces towards the outside of the needle through the lateral opening 4. Due to the length of the end portion 3a the bar 9 is prevented from being withdrawn from the cavity 3 under the action of a transverse pull exerted on the bar 9 for instance by the connector 10.

In the case ofa needle as described with reference to FIG. 2, retention of the bar 9 in the cavity 3 is assisted by the presence of the permanent magnet 5 which tends to press the bar against the body 1 of the needle. In the case ofa needle as shown in FIG. 3 or of the various alternative forms of this which are not shown, the retention of the bar 9 is solely provided by magnetic forces.

In FIG. 5, the needle is half way into the article 7. Friction of the projection 11 against the stuffing has caused the bar 9 to slide along the cavity 3 during the penetration of the needle 5, and the projection now abuts against the other end portion 3b of the cavity. During this movement of the bar 9, the bar is effectively retained in the cavity by the stuffing which overlies the opening 4, and the retention of the bar is increased by magnetic forces of the needle if provided with a magnet.

The progress of the needle through the article 7 continues, and since the bar abuts against the end portion 3b, the bar is pivoted into the position shown in FIG. 6 as will now be described. The connector attached to the eyelet or the projection 11 provided with a groove in a known manner is drawn by the bar 9 and travels through the article 7 until the facing button 8 abuts against the face of the article 7. Continued move ment of the needle causes, through the connector 10 and the button 8, the stuffing located around the needle to be compressed against its support surface. The resilient reaction of this stuffing creates a tension in the connector 10, and when the opening 4 of the cavity 3 is located outside the stuffing and on the other side of the article 7, this tension tends to pivot the bar 9 about its end engaged in the end portion 3b of the cavity, after having overcome the magnetic retaining force of the needle on the bar if this force is present. This pivotal movement is possible since the length of the bar 9 is slightly less than the sum of the lengths of the end portion 3b and of the opening 4, and because of the small size of the end portion 3b.

When the bar 9 is made of a plastics material, the flexibility of this bar is such that it is possible to use a needle in which the length of the opening 4 and that of the end portion 3b are together slightly less than that of the bar; the introduction of the bar into the cavity 3 and its removal therefrom is allowed by reason of the resilience of the bar. At the end of the upholstering operation, the tension on the connector 10 tends to bend the bar at its center and finally to cause the end of the bar to come out of the end portion 3a in which the bar is still engaged by reason of its length. In this manner it is ensured that the bar is not released prematurely from the cavity 3.

When the bar 9 has emerged from the cavity 3 it is pressed against the face of the article 7 by the resilient action of this article. The needle is then withdrawn without the risk of taking the bar 9 with it.

The upholstery needles particularly described are of simple construction and of relatively low cost. Upholstering operations can be rapidly effected using the needles since the bar is driven from its chamber in the needle without any operation additional to the insertion of the needle. Furthermore, the very small depth of the end portion 3b of the cavity permits the bar to make a swinging movement as soon as it emerges on the other side of the upholstered article. There is therefore no need to use a machine for initially compressing the article as has been necessary hitherto. With such machines, the connector 10 needs to be relatively long and thus relatively thin articles cannot be satisfactorily upholstered; since the needles described do not require use of such a machine, the needles can be used with relatively thin articles.

Because of their simplicity, the needles can be used in existing upholstering machines and can operate in either a vertical or a horizontal working plane. The needles are of particular use in the manufacture of articles of furniture.

What is claimed is:

1. An upholstery needle for upholstering a stuffed article with an upholstering device having a counterbutton in the form of a bar, said needle comprising a relatively long and narrow body having a point at one end thereof and having a cavity therein of predetermined length less than the length of said body for slidably receiving said bar, said cavity:

extending lengthwise of said body and having one end thereof adjacent said point and the opposite end thereof spaced from the opposite end of said body having a lateral opening of a length less than said predetermined length of said cavity and of a size permitting the insertion of said bar into said cavity having a lateral end wall at said opposite end thereof which is spaced from said lateral opening and which is engageable with an end of said bar for limiting longitudinal movement of the latter and having a peripheral wall intermediate said end wall and said opening which extends in the direction around the portion of the cavity between said end wall and said opening to form a chamber for receiving an end portion of a bar and for engaging said end portion of said bar and preventing movement of said bar out of said cavity in a direction perpendicular to the length thereof but permitting tilting of said bar out of said cavity.

2. A needle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cavity has a further lateral wall at said one end thereof which is spaced from said lateral opening and which is engageable with an end of said bar for limiting longitudinal movement of the latter and has a further peripheral wall intermediate said further end wall and said opening and which extends in the direction around the portion of the cavity between said further end wall and said opening to form a further chamber for receiving an end portion of a bar and for engaging said last-mentioned end portion of said bar and preventing movement of said bar out of said cavity in a direction perpendicular to the length thereof.

3. A needle as set forth in claim 2, wherein said bar is relatively long and narrow and wherein the length of said opening plus the spacing of said first-mentioned end wall from said opening is greater than the length of said bar.

4. A needle as set forth in claim 2, wherein said bar is relatively long and narrow and wherein the length of said opening plus the spacing of said first-mentioned end wall from said opening is less than the length of said bar.

5. A needle as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said body laterally of said cavity is magnetized.

6. A needle as set forth in claim 5, wherein said portion of said body comprises a permanently magnetized material.

7. A needle as set forth in claim 5, wherein said body is made of magnetic material and substantially all of said body is permanently magnetized.

8. A needle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body is made of magnetic material and further comprises means providing a magnetic field extending to said cav- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,894,666

DATED July 15, 1975 iNVENTOR( i REGIS Y. DELAHOUSSE and PHILIPPE J. DELAHOUSSE it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown beiow:

Column 4, Claim 2, line 33 insert "end" after -lateral- Sign! and Scaled this second Day of DecemberI975 [SEAL] A nest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DAMN Ann-ting Officer Commissioner ofl'arenu and Trllltnllrh 

1. An upholstery needle for upholstering a stuffed article with an upholstering device having a counterbutton in the form of a bar, said needle comprising a relatively long and narrow body having a point at one end thereof and having a cavity therein of predetermined length less than the length of said body for slidably receiving said bar, said cavity: extending lengthwise of said body and having one end thereof adjacent said point and the opposiTe end thereof spaced from the opposite end of said body having a lateral opening of a length less than said predetermined length of said cavity and of a size permitting the insertion of said bar into said cavity having a lateral end wall at said opposite end thereof which is spaced from said lateral opening and which is engageable with an end of said bar for limiting longitudinal movement of the latter and having a peripheral wall intermediate said end wall and said opening which extends in the direction around the portion of the cavity between said end wall and said opening to form a chamber for receiving an end portion of a bar and for engaging said end portion of said bar and preventing movement of said bar out of said cavity in a direction perpendicular to the length thereof but permitting tilting of said bar out of said cavity.
 2. A needle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cavity has a further lateral wall at said one end thereof which is spaced from said lateral opening and which is engageable with an end of said bar for limiting longitudinal movement of the latter and has a further peripheral wall intermediate said further end wall and said opening and which extends in the direction around the portion of the cavity between said further end wall and said opening to form a further chamber for receiving an end portion of a bar and for engaging said last-mentioned end portion of said bar and preventing movement of said bar out of said cavity in a direction perpendicular to the length thereof.
 3. A needle as set forth in claim 2, wherein said bar is relatively long and narrow and wherein the length of said opening plus the spacing of said first-mentioned end wall from said opening is greater than the length of said bar.
 4. A needle as set forth in claim 2, wherein said bar is relatively long and narrow and wherein the length of said opening plus the spacing of said first-mentioned end wall from said opening is less than the length of said bar.
 5. A needle as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said body laterally of said cavity is magnetized.
 6. A needle as set forth in claim 5, wherein said portion of said body comprises a permanently magnetized material.
 7. A needle as set forth in claim 5, wherein said body is made of magnetic material and substantially all of said body is permanently magnetized.
 8. A needle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body is made of magnetic material and further comprises means providing a magnetic field extending to said cavity. 